There are few directors or personalities inside the video game industry who can really make anything they want without asking questions. One of those names is Hideo Kojima, creator of Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding. This Japanese creator made games reach a new level of originality.
Unfortunately, there are not all great ideas; there was a time when this director had some wacky ideas that fans wouldn’t like. This project was a zombie online game that would have required players to pay for multiple accounts in order to keep playing.
A Great Director Does Not Always Have Amazing Ideas Hideo Kojima had some ideas in the past that were no good at all.
The game industry has some names that change it all forever, with titles that really push this business to a new level, making video games one of the most profitable entertainment mediums in the world.
Unfortunately, there are not all great ideas; there was a time when this director had some wacky ideas that fans wouldn’t like. This project was a zombie online game that would have required players to pay for multiple accounts in order to keep playing.
A Great Director Does Not Always Have Amazing Ideas Hideo Kojima had some ideas in the past that were no good at all.
The game industry has some names that change it all forever, with titles that really push this business to a new level, making video games one of the most profitable entertainment mediums in the world.
- 4/22/2024
- by Lucas Lapetina
- FandomWire
Take-Two, the publishing giant behind the GTA series, is laying off hundreds of staff and cancelling projects in order to save costs.
The eagerly-anticipated GTA 6 is likely to break records when it eventually releases, but that hasn’t stopped its publisher, Take-Two Interactive Software, from making sizeable cuts to its business.
Said cuts came to light in a recent SEC filing dated 16th April (reported by Eurogamer). In it, the company said it plans to reduce its workforce by five percent and “eliminate several projects in development” in order to “enhance the company’s profile while still investing for growth.”
Take-Two has around 11,000 people on its payroll, meaning a five percent cut should equate to losses of about 550 staff. Those cuts, the publisher writes, will result in $165m in “annual cost savings.”
At the time of writing, it isn’t clear what projects are being cut across the development teams under the Take-Two banner.
The eagerly-anticipated GTA 6 is likely to break records when it eventually releases, but that hasn’t stopped its publisher, Take-Two Interactive Software, from making sizeable cuts to its business.
Said cuts came to light in a recent SEC filing dated 16th April (reported by Eurogamer). In it, the company said it plans to reduce its workforce by five percent and “eliminate several projects in development” in order to “enhance the company’s profile while still investing for growth.”
Take-Two has around 11,000 people on its payroll, meaning a five percent cut should equate to losses of about 550 staff. Those cuts, the publisher writes, will result in $165m in “annual cost savings.”
At the time of writing, it isn’t clear what projects are being cut across the development teams under the Take-Two banner.
- 4/17/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
Few directors and creatives survive after their first big success; people like Ken Levine, Glen Schofield, and Cliff Bleszinski were not so lucky after the success of their greatest IP. Once Gears of War was behind Cliffy B, the director tried several times to make a new great game.
Lawbreakers was one of these projects, but the title quickly went out of play, and the director distanced himself from gaming design. But fans seem to want to bring back this game, and this director is very happy and surprised about this community engagement.
Cliff Bleszinski Was Encouraged by Fans to Promote This Project to Bring back Lawbreakers Lawbreakers was a hero shooter launched in 2017.
As with many other directors or great personalities in the gaming industry, it is really hard to make numerous successful trailers. Few of these talents have survived after their first big game; one of them is...
Lawbreakers was one of these projects, but the title quickly went out of play, and the director distanced himself from gaming design. But fans seem to want to bring back this game, and this director is very happy and surprised about this community engagement.
Cliff Bleszinski Was Encouraged by Fans to Promote This Project to Bring back Lawbreakers Lawbreakers was a hero shooter launched in 2017.
As with many other directors or great personalities in the gaming industry, it is really hard to make numerous successful trailers. Few of these talents have survived after their first big game; one of them is...
- 4/16/2024
- by Lucas Lapetina
- FandomWire
Ken Levine, the director of the critically acclaimed Bioshock saga, is developing Judas, his new game. Ghost Story Games, Levine’s new studio, is developing this game as its official first project. But fans only really want one thing from 2K Games and Levine: a new Bioshock.
Thanks to the eleventh anniversary of Bioshock Infinite, a post on X drew some attention. 2K Games replied to the fan question about a new possible Bioshock with a chef emoji, confirming that something could be in development regarding the Bioshock franchise.
Fans don’t want Judas; they are only worried about whether 2K Games will launch another game in the Bioshock franchise Fans wants a new Bioshock game really bad, and on post about Bioshock Infinite. 2K Games may have confirmed.
One of the greatest franchises in video games is Bioshock. Critics and fans praise the three games in the saga for their incredible original plot,...
Thanks to the eleventh anniversary of Bioshock Infinite, a post on X drew some attention. 2K Games replied to the fan question about a new possible Bioshock with a chef emoji, confirming that something could be in development regarding the Bioshock franchise.
Fans don’t want Judas; they are only worried about whether 2K Games will launch another game in the Bioshock franchise Fans wants a new Bioshock game really bad, and on post about Bioshock Infinite. 2K Games may have confirmed.
One of the greatest franchises in video games is Bioshock. Critics and fans praise the three games in the saga for their incredible original plot,...
- 4/1/2024
- by Lucas Lapetina
- FandomWire
PlayStation’s annual upcoming game event showcase, State of Play, took place today, providing fans with plenty of new content to look forward to in the next 12 months. During the event, an intriguing new addition was given a new story trailer, which is the debut game from Ghost Story Games, called Judas.
This is particularly exciting news for fans of the Bioshock franchise, as Judas is considered to be its spiritual successor.
What We Know So Far About Ken Levine`s Judas The first story trailer for Judas was unveiled at State of Play.
In this upcoming release, game developer Ken Levine is set to headline his first game since Bioshock Infinite: Dead at Sea, which was released way back in 2014. Fans are eagerly anticipating his new game, Judas, in hopes that it will capture the same experience as the three Bioshock games. From what we know so far, it...
This is particularly exciting news for fans of the Bioshock franchise, as Judas is considered to be its spiritual successor.
What We Know So Far About Ken Levine`s Judas The first story trailer for Judas was unveiled at State of Play.
In this upcoming release, game developer Ken Levine is set to headline his first game since Bioshock Infinite: Dead at Sea, which was released way back in 2014. Fans are eagerly anticipating his new game, Judas, in hopes that it will capture the same experience as the three Bioshock games. From what we know so far, it...
- 2/15/2024
- by Stuart Murray
- FandomWire
If you’re a fan of books about video games, you should be familiar with Bitmap Books. The UK-based company has been cranking out quality books ranging from the history of first-person shooters to video game box art for a while now, and now they’re set to focus on horror in video games with From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror.
Set to launch on October 31 of this year (naturally), From Ants to Zombies will showcase the range horror gaming has achieved across six decades from the 1970s to the 2020s, and across 70 hardware platforms from the Zx Spectrum to the Xbox Series. The book will include more than 130 horror titles across thirteen thematically-divided chapters, covering a variety of genres, settings, and “shades of fear”.
The game coverage is accompanied by exclusive commentary from pioneering horror developers such as Keiichiro Toyama (Silent Hill), Jane Jensen (Gabriel Knight...
Set to launch on October 31 of this year (naturally), From Ants to Zombies will showcase the range horror gaming has achieved across six decades from the 1970s to the 2020s, and across 70 hardware platforms from the Zx Spectrum to the Xbox Series. The book will include more than 130 horror titles across thirteen thematically-divided chapters, covering a variety of genres, settings, and “shades of fear”.
The game coverage is accompanied by exclusive commentary from pioneering horror developers such as Keiichiro Toyama (Silent Hill), Jane Jensen (Gabriel Knight...
- 9/26/2023
- by Mike Wilson
- bloody-disgusting.com
Whenever the NBC comedy Cheers had to replace an actor, the new actor overlapped with the rest of the cast. After the death of Nicholas Colasanto, Woody Harrelson became a regular. Even after Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) broke up with Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), Frasier remained at the bar. Kirstie Alley joined Cheers in season 6 after Long left, and they never met, until the series finale.
L-r: Shelley Long, Ted Danson, and Kirstie Alley | Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Long returned as Diane for the Cheers series finale. She even suggested some of her own ideas for why Diane never called Sam Malone (Ted Danson) after she left. The writers included some, but for Ken Levine, the big worry was the meeting of Alley and Long.
Shelley Long handed ‘Cheers’ off to Kirstie Alley
The first five seasons of Cheers were all about Sam and Diane. Would they end up together or not?...
L-r: Shelley Long, Ted Danson, and Kirstie Alley | Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Long returned as Diane for the Cheers series finale. She even suggested some of her own ideas for why Diane never called Sam Malone (Ted Danson) after she left. The writers included some, but for Ken Levine, the big worry was the meeting of Alley and Long.
Shelley Long handed ‘Cheers’ off to Kirstie Alley
The first five seasons of Cheers were all about Sam and Diane. Would they end up together or not?...
- 1/28/2023
- by Fred Topel
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The NBC comedy Frasier had plenty of A-list guest stars. Many Cheers cast members visited Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) in Seattle. Patrick Stewart, Bill Gates and Laura Linney were among other Frasier guest stars. One guest star, however, ruled himself out of a Frasier episode with his weird request.
Ben Gazzara | Brad Barket/Getty Images
Frasier writer Ken Levine discussed the episode and guest star in question on an episode of his Hollywood & Levine podcast. Here’s why you never saw Ben Gazzara on an episode of Frasier.
The ‘Frasier’ episode they wanted to cast Ben Gazzara for
Gazzara was a film and television actor from the ‘60s through his death in 2012. Though he starred on three seasons of Run For Your Life, it was 2003’s Hysterical Blindness that finally landed him an Emmy. Gazzara also appeared in legendary movies from Anatomy of a Murder to Road House and The Big Lebowski.
Ben Gazzara | Brad Barket/Getty Images
Frasier writer Ken Levine discussed the episode and guest star in question on an episode of his Hollywood & Levine podcast. Here’s why you never saw Ben Gazzara on an episode of Frasier.
The ‘Frasier’ episode they wanted to cast Ben Gazzara for
Gazzara was a film and television actor from the ‘60s through his death in 2012. Though he starred on three seasons of Run For Your Life, it was 2003’s Hysterical Blindness that finally landed him an Emmy. Gazzara also appeared in legendary movies from Anatomy of a Murder to Road House and The Big Lebowski.
- 1/27/2023
- by Fred Topel
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The NBC comedy Cheers attracted several guest stars playing themselves. These were public figures like baseball player Wade Boggs and of course Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek. One of the first guest stars in season 1 was politician Tip O’Neill. He was a good sport, but refused to do one joke the writers had written.
Rhea Perlman and Thomas P. ‘Tip’ O’Neill | Frank Carroll/NBCU Photo Bank
Cheers writer Ken Levine revealed the lost Tip O’Neill scene on an episode of his Hollywood & Levine podcast. Here’s the scene that was missing from season 1, episode 18, “No Contest.”
The history of politicians as ‘Cheers’ guest stars
Long before Joint Chiefs Chairman William J. Crowe appeared in season 7, O’Neill came into Cheers as a guest star for a drink. Levine explained who O’Neill was in 1983.
“For Cheers, we got Thomas ‘Tip’ O’Neill as our stunt casting in season 1,” Levine said on Hollywood & Levine.
Rhea Perlman and Thomas P. ‘Tip’ O’Neill | Frank Carroll/NBCU Photo Bank
Cheers writer Ken Levine revealed the lost Tip O’Neill scene on an episode of his Hollywood & Levine podcast. Here’s the scene that was missing from season 1, episode 18, “No Contest.”
The history of politicians as ‘Cheers’ guest stars
Long before Joint Chiefs Chairman William J. Crowe appeared in season 7, O’Neill came into Cheers as a guest star for a drink. Levine explained who O’Neill was in 1983.
“For Cheers, we got Thomas ‘Tip’ O’Neill as our stunt casting in season 1,” Levine said on Hollywood & Levine.
- 1/27/2023
- by Fred Topel
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The NBC comedy Cheers was all about feeling good. Fans don’t associate it with horror. But, for writer Ken Levine, working on Cheers had some scary moments. Levine, with his partner David Isaacs, wrote 40 episodes of Cheers. They were responsible for a “Monster” Norm (George Wendt) joke and integral to the transition from Shelley Long to Kirstie Alley, but those weren’t the scariest times.
L-r: John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer, Rhea Perlmani, Ted Danson,, Kirstie Alley, Woody Harrelson, and George Wendt | NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Levine revealed his scariest moment on Cheers on an episode of his Hollywood & Levine podcast. If you’re a writer, grab your blankie and night light because Levine’s fear is palpable.
‘Cheers’ classic episode was terrifying to writer Ken Levine
“Bar Wars” became a classic Cheers episode. The Cheers gang goes to war with Gary’s Olde Towne Tavern in season 6. Levine...
L-r: John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer, Rhea Perlmani, Ted Danson,, Kirstie Alley, Woody Harrelson, and George Wendt | NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Levine revealed his scariest moment on Cheers on an episode of his Hollywood & Levine podcast. If you’re a writer, grab your blankie and night light because Levine’s fear is palpable.
‘Cheers’ classic episode was terrifying to writer Ken Levine
“Bar Wars” became a classic Cheers episode. The Cheers gang goes to war with Gary’s Olde Towne Tavern in season 6. Levine...
- 1/26/2023
- by Fred Topel
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The NBC comedy Cheers comes from a bygone era of television, one in which theme songs were integral to the series. The Cheers theme song was memorable with its chorus “where everybody knows your name.” Today, most shows can’t spare 30 seconds for a theme song. The new Night Court throws fans a bone with just 10 seconds of it. NBC had other issues with the opening of Cheers in the ‘80s.
L-r: Nicholas Colasanto, Rhea Perlman, Shelley Long, and Ted Danson | Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Cheers writer Ken Levine revealed the 2 issues the Cheers theme song and opening titles caused the network on his Hollywood & Levine podcast. It wasn’t the lyrics, which the creators of the show changed prior to the pilot.
‘Cheers’ opening titles didn’t show cast photos
As “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” played, Cheers did not show photographs of the actors. Instead,...
L-r: Nicholas Colasanto, Rhea Perlman, Shelley Long, and Ted Danson | Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Cheers writer Ken Levine revealed the 2 issues the Cheers theme song and opening titles caused the network on his Hollywood & Levine podcast. It wasn’t the lyrics, which the creators of the show changed prior to the pilot.
‘Cheers’ opening titles didn’t show cast photos
As “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” played, Cheers did not show photographs of the actors. Instead,...
- 1/25/2023
- by Fred Topel
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The NBC comedy Cheers proved a lucrative hit. Not only did it run for 11 seasons, but it launched the spinoff Frasier which ran for 11 more. But, it wasn’t always a hit. In fact, the first season, it was at the bottom of the ratings until summer reruns. During that dark period, the studio, Paramount, tried one way to save money on Cheers but it did not work.
Shelley Long and Ted Danson | NBCU Photo Bank
Cheers writer Ken Levine shared the story of the show’s money saving mistake on his podcast, Hollywood and Levine. Be glad they didn’t go with this idea.
‘Cheers’ considered a different process to save money
Cheers announced “Cheers was filmed before a live studio audience” as a disclaimer to confirm real human beings were laughing, not a laugh track. But, in 1982, video tape was emerging as a less expensive option.
“How many...
Shelley Long and Ted Danson | NBCU Photo Bank
Cheers writer Ken Levine shared the story of the show’s money saving mistake on his podcast, Hollywood and Levine. Be glad they didn’t go with this idea.
‘Cheers’ considered a different process to save money
Cheers announced “Cheers was filmed before a live studio audience” as a disclaimer to confirm real human beings were laughing, not a laugh track. But, in 1982, video tape was emerging as a less expensive option.
“How many...
- 1/24/2023
- by Fred Topel
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It’s a funny thing booting up an all-time great on a handheld device. In the park on a sunny day, I angle the screen towards a group of onlookers who are squinting at what I’m playing. Rapture is coming into view, this aquatic dystopia revealing itself at my very fingertips. Mere moments in, I’m already sold, and I want other people to see it too.
Nostalgia has powerful appeal and BioShock: The Collection makes a lot of sense on the Switch. The package comprises all three games and their respective Dlc, and to a new audience, it’s a chance to add an important series to the library. To an existing fan, it represents a new way to play. Developer Virtuos has taken care of the port, and the team has done an excellent job of honoring Ken Levine’s vision. In fact, many of the flourishes...
Nostalgia has powerful appeal and BioShock: The Collection makes a lot of sense on the Switch. The package comprises all three games and their respective Dlc, and to a new audience, it’s a chance to add an important series to the library. To an existing fan, it represents a new way to play. Developer Virtuos has taken care of the port, and the team has done an excellent job of honoring Ken Levine’s vision. In fact, many of the flourishes...
- 6/15/2020
- by Edward Love
- We Got This Covered
Earl Pomerantz, an Emmy-winning television writer who worked on numerous sitcoms over the years, died Saturday in Los Angeles. He was 75.
The announcement was made by Pomerantz’s friend, TV writer Ken Levine, on Levine’s personal blog.
Over the course of his career, Pomerantz wrote scripts for “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Rhoda,” “The Tony Randall Show,” “Phyllis,” “Taxi,” “Cheers” and “The Cosby Show,” which he also ran for a period of time. He also was creator and executive producer on “Major Dad” and “Best of the West” and served as a creative consultant on “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show,” “The Larry Sanders Show,” “Lateline” and “According to Jim.” He won two Emmy Awards, one in 1976 for serving on the writing team of “The Lily Tomlin Special” and another in 1985 for “The Cosby Show.”
Born in Canada, he got his start in television writing...
The announcement was made by Pomerantz’s friend, TV writer Ken Levine, on Levine’s personal blog.
Over the course of his career, Pomerantz wrote scripts for “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Rhoda,” “The Tony Randall Show,” “Phyllis,” “Taxi,” “Cheers” and “The Cosby Show,” which he also ran for a period of time. He also was creator and executive producer on “Major Dad” and “Best of the West” and served as a creative consultant on “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show,” “The Larry Sanders Show,” “Lateline” and “According to Jim.” He won two Emmy Awards, one in 1976 for serving on the writing team of “The Lily Tomlin Special” and another in 1985 for “The Cosby Show.”
Born in Canada, he got his start in television writing...
- 3/9/2020
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Earl Pomerantz, the Emmy-winning television writer behind “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Cheers,” died Saturday at age 75.
His death was announced Monday in a blog post by his friend Ken Levine, a fellow television writer for “Cheers,” M*A*S*H,” and “Frasier.” No cause of death has been confirmed yet, but Levine wrote that Pomerantz’s “serious health problems” had only begun as recently as “about five weeks ago.”
In his last entry made on his personal blog, “Earl Pomerantz: Just Thinking,” Pomerantz spoke of a “troubling eye problem.”
“Can’t write. Be back when I can,” he wrote in late January. “In the meantime, thanks for the company. I’ve never had more fun writing. So long. And as The Cisco Kid used to say, ‘See you soon, Ha!'”
Also Read: Max von Sydow, 'The Exorcist' and 'Seventh Seal' Star, Dies at 90
Pomerantz also wrote for “The Cosby Show,...
His death was announced Monday in a blog post by his friend Ken Levine, a fellow television writer for “Cheers,” M*A*S*H,” and “Frasier.” No cause of death has been confirmed yet, but Levine wrote that Pomerantz’s “serious health problems” had only begun as recently as “about five weeks ago.”
In his last entry made on his personal blog, “Earl Pomerantz: Just Thinking,” Pomerantz spoke of a “troubling eye problem.”
“Can’t write. Be back when I can,” he wrote in late January. “In the meantime, thanks for the company. I’ve never had more fun writing. So long. And as The Cisco Kid used to say, ‘See you soon, Ha!'”
Also Read: Max von Sydow, 'The Exorcist' and 'Seventh Seal' Star, Dies at 90
Pomerantz also wrote for “The Cosby Show,...
- 3/9/2020
- by Margeaux Sippell
- The Wrap
Earl Pomerantz, a prolific TV writer whose credits include episodes of such popular sitcoms as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Cheers, The Bob Newhart Show, Taxi and Sanford & Son who also developed and exec produced the 1990s Gerald McRaney comedy Major Dad, died Saturday, March 7. He was 75.
His death was announced by his friend, TV writer Ken Levine, who said Pomerantz died at UCLA Medical Center. No cause of death was announced, but Pomerantz’s health had been in serious decline for five weeks, according to Levine.
Pomerantz won two Emmy Awards, the first in 1976 as part of the writing team for The Lily Tomlin Special and another in 1985 for The Cosby Show. He was nominated four other times, for Lily (1975), The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1977), a second 1985 episode of The Cosby Show and in 1997 for The Larry Sanders Show.
Notable Hollywood & Entertainment Industry Deaths In 2020: Photo Gallery
In addition to script writing,...
His death was announced by his friend, TV writer Ken Levine, who said Pomerantz died at UCLA Medical Center. No cause of death was announced, but Pomerantz’s health had been in serious decline for five weeks, according to Levine.
Pomerantz won two Emmy Awards, the first in 1976 as part of the writing team for The Lily Tomlin Special and another in 1985 for The Cosby Show. He was nominated four other times, for Lily (1975), The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1977), a second 1985 episode of The Cosby Show and in 1997 for The Larry Sanders Show.
Notable Hollywood & Entertainment Industry Deaths In 2020: Photo Gallery
In addition to script writing,...
- 3/9/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
For six long years, BioShock fans have been left hanging on tenterhooks awaiting even the smallest morsel of information regarding a sequel.
In 2013, Irrational Games released BioShock Infinite to near-universal acclaim, continuing the series’ hattrick of success stories beginning with the original title more than a decade ago. Despite trading the undersea dystopian Rapture for the sky-scraping city of Columbia, Ken Levine and the rest of the development team had all but secured the series’ future. At least, that’s what we all thought. Though a prior report by Kotaku has since indicated that publisher Take-Two has already formed a “top-secret” studio and task force to spearhead the next installment, details on the supposed project are still frustratingly thin on the ground.
However, during its recent earnings call to investors, Take-Two Interactive shared its plans for the current fiscal year, which spans from now all the way up to March 2020. In it,...
In 2013, Irrational Games released BioShock Infinite to near-universal acclaim, continuing the series’ hattrick of success stories beginning with the original title more than a decade ago. Despite trading the undersea dystopian Rapture for the sky-scraping city of Columbia, Ken Levine and the rest of the development team had all but secured the series’ future. At least, that’s what we all thought. Though a prior report by Kotaku has since indicated that publisher Take-Two has already formed a “top-secret” studio and task force to spearhead the next installment, details on the supposed project are still frustratingly thin on the ground.
However, during its recent earnings call to investors, Take-Two Interactive shared its plans for the current fiscal year, which spans from now all the way up to March 2020. In it,...
- 5/14/2019
- by Joe Pring
- We Got This Covered
In the cutthroat environment of the prime-time landscape, it’s not unheard of for a series to make its debut and receive its walking papers within the same week. For a sitcom to end its first season rated #74 out of 77 shows yet still survive to see a second season, that’s nothing short of miraculous. Yet that’s exactly what happened with “Cheers” — and look how things worked out: Not only did this conceptually simple show about a Boston bar owned and its stable of regulars find its way out of its ratings doldrums, it became the top-rated television series in America, carrying on for eleven seasons before anyone said, “Last call!”
When “Cheers” closed its doors on May 20, 1993, NBC pulled out all the stops, promoting the finale so vociferously that any series would’ve had trouble living up to the hype. Thankfully, the episode was every bit the ratings...
When “Cheers” closed its doors on May 20, 1993, NBC pulled out all the stops, promoting the finale so vociferously that any series would’ve had trouble living up to the hype. Thankfully, the episode was every bit the ratings...
- 5/18/2018
- by Will Harris
- Variety Film + TV
Ninety-five members of the Writers Guild of America have signed a letter sent to the guild’s board of directors urging that it divest from gun companies and any companies that support the NRA.
The letter, sent to the Board Tuesday, warns “Gun violence enabled by the ready availability of military grade weapons, has become one of the biggest threats to the safety and security of the American people.” The letter continues, “We urge the WGA and the WGA Pension Plan to divest of all stocks of any gun or ammunition manufacturer, and any company that provides material support to the gun industry lobbying organization called The National Rifle Association, whether through donations, deductions or other means (e.g. Federal Express), until such time as sensible national gun reform legislation is passed.”
It is signed by 95 members of both WGA West and WGA East.
You can read the letter in...
The letter, sent to the Board Tuesday, warns “Gun violence enabled by the ready availability of military grade weapons, has become one of the biggest threats to the safety and security of the American people.” The letter continues, “We urge the WGA and the WGA Pension Plan to divest of all stocks of any gun or ammunition manufacturer, and any company that provides material support to the gun industry lobbying organization called The National Rifle Association, whether through donations, deductions or other means (e.g. Federal Express), until such time as sensible national gun reform legislation is passed.”
It is signed by 95 members of both WGA West and WGA East.
You can read the letter in...
- 4/4/2018
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Following BioShock Infinite and its excellent, noir-esque Dlc Burial at Sea, Creative Director Ken Levine formally announced plans to “wind down” Irrational Games as we know it. Almost every staff member was laid off as Levine and a handful of key developers switched gears to double down on digital, narrative-driven games.
That was three years ago, and today brings word that a dozen former Irrational employees – Levine included – have rallied together to form Ghost Story Games. Little is known about the studio’s current project(s), but according to the official site, the end goal of Ghost is to “create immersive, story-driven games for people who love games that ask something of them.”
Ken Levine has been appointed President and Creative Director of Ghost Story Games, who will oversee a team comprised of Shawn Robertson, Don Roy, Emma Clarkson, Seth Kendall, and many more.
While discussing the newfound studio, Kendall...
That was three years ago, and today brings word that a dozen former Irrational employees – Levine included – have rallied together to form Ghost Story Games. Little is known about the studio’s current project(s), but according to the official site, the end goal of Ghost is to “create immersive, story-driven games for people who love games that ask something of them.”
Ken Levine has been appointed President and Creative Director of Ghost Story Games, who will oversee a team comprised of Shawn Robertson, Don Roy, Emma Clarkson, Seth Kendall, and many more.
While discussing the newfound studio, Kendall...
- 2/24/2017
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Night Dive Studios’ painstaking remake of 90s RPG classic System Shock has hit a few road bumps during development, a recent update on the project’s Kickstarter page has seemingly revealed. While no explicit mention of a delay is made in the bite-sized Q&A session, one question asks what platforms the remake will see a release on, with the answer reading “Our goal is to launch on PC/Mac/Linux/Xbox One/PS4 by Q2 of 2018.”
When the crowdfunding campaign launched earlier this year, the estimated release date given was December 2017, so the delay isn’t too bad. Having comfortably reached (and surpassed) its $900,000 funding goal within a month of going live, Night Dive has since released all sorts of in-progress updates, including an early demo to coincide with the beginning of the Kickstarter campaign itself.
To soften the blow of the delay, Night Dive has dispatched a new piece of concept art,...
When the crowdfunding campaign launched earlier this year, the estimated release date given was December 2017, so the delay isn’t too bad. Having comfortably reached (and surpassed) its $900,000 funding goal within a month of going live, Night Dive has since released all sorts of in-progress updates, including an early demo to coincide with the beginning of the Kickstarter campaign itself.
To soften the blow of the delay, Night Dive has dispatched a new piece of concept art,...
- 11/21/2016
- by Joe Pring
- We Got This Covered
Almost ten years on from the moment Irrational Games swung open the majestic doors to Rapture, 2K has today unveiled a new trailer for BioShock: The Collection, touting the revamped graphics for all three core titles.
Pegged to land across all platforms on September 13, the compilation features BioShock, its sequel, BioShock: Infinite and all single-player Dlc – Minerva’s Den included. Those wanting to take a deeper dive into the history of the dormant series can also look forward to a commentary from Game Director Ken Levine and Lead Artist Shawn Robertson, as they guide you through the dark, dank corridors of Rapture all the way up to the clouds of Columbia.
As previously announced, those on PC should note that while The Collection does come packing BioShock: Infinite, it’s not a remaster of the original and is instead a regular port of the 2013 release. Blind Squirrel Games is the studio behind the soon-to-be-released package,...
Pegged to land across all platforms on September 13, the compilation features BioShock, its sequel, BioShock: Infinite and all single-player Dlc – Minerva’s Den included. Those wanting to take a deeper dive into the history of the dormant series can also look forward to a commentary from Game Director Ken Levine and Lead Artist Shawn Robertson, as they guide you through the dark, dank corridors of Rapture all the way up to the clouds of Columbia.
As previously announced, those on PC should note that while The Collection does come packing BioShock: Infinite, it’s not a remaster of the original and is instead a regular port of the 2013 release. Blind Squirrel Games is the studio behind the soon-to-be-released package,...
- 8/9/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
After a seemingly endless parade of leaks, 2K has finally announced that remastered versions of all three BioShock games are coming to the current-gen consoles (and PCs) in one package. Better yet, it's coming in just a few months. Come inside to learn more!
If you missed out on any of the previous BioShock games, or simply want to relive the horrific adventures once more on your shiny new gaming systems, your wait is nearly over. This morning (following on yet another leak), 2K has announced BioShock: The Collection is coming on September 13, 2016. The set will include all three games, all single-player Dlc, and even a new video series for fans of the franchise. That's a lot of content for the price of a single new game. Definitely worth it for fans and newcomers.
It’s been nine years since Irrational Games and 2K pulled you to terrifying depths in...
If you missed out on any of the previous BioShock games, or simply want to relive the horrific adventures once more on your shiny new gaming systems, your wait is nearly over. This morning (following on yet another leak), 2K has announced BioShock: The Collection is coming on September 13, 2016. The set will include all three games, all single-player Dlc, and even a new video series for fans of the franchise. That's a lot of content for the price of a single new game. Definitely worth it for fans and newcomers.
It’s been nine years since Irrational Games and 2K pulled you to terrifying depths in...
- 6/30/2016
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Jordan Maison)
- Cinelinx
Ken Levine is no longer writing the forthcoming remake of Logan's Run.
The BioShock creator and Irrational Games creative director confirmed the news via Twitter, where he admitted he didn't know whether his draft would be used by the film's new writer.
"People been asking if Kinberg working from my draft on Logan's Run. Don't know, word is one major thing at least is surviving. Learned a lot," Levine said.
"Going to write up some learnings I took away working on Logan's Run on Medium soon."
He added: "But my time on Logan's was an amazing experience. Worked with great people at Warner's.
"And I got to play in my favourite fictional universe."
Levine is, however, working on a new film project - one that he plans to talk about soon.
Released in 1976, the original Logan's Run starred Michael York in a seemingly idyllic future where human beings live inside a domed city.
The BioShock creator and Irrational Games creative director confirmed the news via Twitter, where he admitted he didn't know whether his draft would be used by the film's new writer.
"People been asking if Kinberg working from my draft on Logan's Run. Don't know, word is one major thing at least is surviving. Learned a lot," Levine said.
"Going to write up some learnings I took away working on Logan's Run on Medium soon."
He added: "But my time on Logan's was an amazing experience. Worked with great people at Warner's.
"And I got to play in my favourite fictional universe."
Levine is, however, working on a new film project - one that he plans to talk about soon.
Released in 1976, the original Logan's Run starred Michael York in a seemingly idyllic future where human beings live inside a domed city.
- 7/25/2015
- Digital Spy
Yes, it's that time to talk about a Logan's Run remake. Again. Everyone under the sun has been mentioned for this remake, and last we heard Bioshock creator Ken Levine was being passed up for "a fresh writer to develop the film for a female lead." That may or may not still be the case, but we at least have a name attached to the production; Simon Kinberg. Kinberg is a name... Read More...
- 7/22/2015
- by Sean Wist
- JoBlo.com
It was with a heavy heart that we brought you the news of Ken Levine‘s decision to wind down Irrational Games as we knew it. As the creators of System Shock, BioShock and several other projects, this was a developer that established a reputation in the industry for shooters that struck a balancing act between intriguing storylines and novel gameplay mechanics.
Now, more than one year on, the influential creative director has broken the silence on his new project in an interview with Game Informer, revealing that player agency, character relationships and interactions with NPCs will form the building blocks of this all-new experience.
The whole system that I came up with and that we’re developing is based upon the fact that to make an interesting character, you have to have a character who has a bunch of passions, wants, and needs. The player now has the ability...
Now, more than one year on, the influential creative director has broken the silence on his new project in an interview with Game Informer, revealing that player agency, character relationships and interactions with NPCs will form the building blocks of this all-new experience.
The whole system that I came up with and that we’re developing is based upon the fact that to make an interesting character, you have to have a character who has a bunch of passions, wants, and needs. The player now has the ability...
- 4/10/2015
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
A remake of Logan's Run has been in the works since the mid-1990s with various actors, directors and screenwriters attached to the sci-fi project over the years, including (most recently) Ryan Gosling and his Drive and Only God Forgives director Nicolas Winding Refn. Last we knew Warner Bros. had hired BioShock creator Ken Levine to write the script, but now Tracking Board is reporting that the studio is "hunting down a fresh writer to develop the film for a...
- 4/8/2015
- by Jesse Giroux
- JoBlo.com
Few modern series resonated with the gaming community quite like Irrational Games’ BioShock; particularly the original, which infused political themes and xenophobia into a rich underwater setting. Almost ten years after it first released, the doomed metropolis of Rapture remains arguably one of the greatest video game environments ever made, and one loyal and dedicated fan (gametime414) took to remaking the entire game’s opening using the high-end CryEngine 3.
Without question, BioShock was an experience dripping with atmosphere, but this remaster allows Ken Levine’s critically-adorned opus to shine on modern day tech. For the uninitiated, the story centers around a man named Jack in 1960. As the sole survivor of a tragic plane crash, he is left stranded in the ice-cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean, only to stumble across a lighthouse (there’s always a lighthouse, after all) and journey down into the depths of the ocean to discover the lost city of Rapture.
Without question, BioShock was an experience dripping with atmosphere, but this remaster allows Ken Levine’s critically-adorned opus to shine on modern day tech. For the uninitiated, the story centers around a man named Jack in 1960. As the sole survivor of a tragic plane crash, he is left stranded in the ice-cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean, only to stumble across a lighthouse (there’s always a lighthouse, after all) and journey down into the depths of the ocean to discover the lost city of Rapture.
- 4/7/2015
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Artist Kasra Farahani has released some truly stunning concept art for the BioShock movie that never was, after the video game adaptation was canned at Universal Studios following budget problems.
The artwork, which you can feast your eyes on in the gallery below, depicts a wonderful and wholly on-point visualization of Rapture, along with the Little Sisters and towering, mechanized Big Daddies. Alas, this isn’t the first time that we’ve been exposed to concept art from the cancelled film, after artist Jim Martin took to his own website to post his personal rendition of life under the sea.
Sadly, it looks almost certain that we’ll never see either vision make its way to the silver screen, given how quickly the brakes were hit at Universal. At one point, the studio had Pirates of the Caribbean helmer Gore Verbinski on board to direct, though he soon left after...
The artwork, which you can feast your eyes on in the gallery below, depicts a wonderful and wholly on-point visualization of Rapture, along with the Little Sisters and towering, mechanized Big Daddies. Alas, this isn’t the first time that we’ve been exposed to concept art from the cancelled film, after artist Jim Martin took to his own website to post his personal rendition of life under the sea.
Sadly, it looks almost certain that we’ll never see either vision make its way to the silver screen, given how quickly the brakes were hit at Universal. At one point, the studio had Pirates of the Caribbean helmer Gore Verbinski on board to direct, though he soon left after...
- 12/31/2014
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
BioShock creator Ken Levine is working on a new game, and he says its "open narrative" design will be like Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor...
For many gamers, Ken Levine will need little introduction. The mind behind such classics as Thief: The Dark Project, System Shock 2 and BioShock, he's famous in the industry for creating smartly-designed games with thought-provoking narratives.
Last year's BioShock Infinite, although critically acclaimed, had faced a lengthy and difficult production. Levine himself seemed exhausted after its release; in February this year, he wrote a letter which stated, "Seventeen years is a long time to do any job, even the best one [...] While I'm deeply proud of what we've accomplished together, my passion has turned to making a different kind of game than we've done before."
That letter effectively marked the end of Irrational Games. Of the 90-or-so staff still around after the completion of BioShock Infinite and its Dlc,...
For many gamers, Ken Levine will need little introduction. The mind behind such classics as Thief: The Dark Project, System Shock 2 and BioShock, he's famous in the industry for creating smartly-designed games with thought-provoking narratives.
Last year's BioShock Infinite, although critically acclaimed, had faced a lengthy and difficult production. Levine himself seemed exhausted after its release; in February this year, he wrote a letter which stated, "Seventeen years is a long time to do any job, even the best one [...] While I'm deeply proud of what we've accomplished together, my passion has turned to making a different kind of game than we've done before."
That letter effectively marked the end of Irrational Games. Of the 90-or-so staff still around after the completion of BioShock Infinite and its Dlc,...
- 12/17/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Irrational Games – the celebrated Massachusetts development team responsible for such highly-rated titles as System Shock, BioShock and BioShock Infinite are currently hiring new staff, following the lay-offs of around 70 employees earlier this year. Company founder Ken Levine announced the closure of the studio in February with plans to reform a smaller team. He had this to say:
I’ll be starting a smaller, more entrepreneurial endeavor at Take-Two…That is going to mean parting ways with all but about fifteen members of the Irrational team.
While there is a position available for an It manager, a vacancy for an Irrational Games senior programmer leads many to suspect that a new project is indeed in the pipeline. Will it be a return to the BioShock universe? Not according to Levine who says he is handing the franchise over to 2K Games (who were responsible for publishing Infinite in 2013) with a view...
I’ll be starting a smaller, more entrepreneurial endeavor at Take-Two…That is going to mean parting ways with all but about fifteen members of the Irrational team.
While there is a position available for an It manager, a vacancy for an Irrational Games senior programmer leads many to suspect that a new project is indeed in the pipeline. Will it be a return to the BioShock universe? Not according to Levine who says he is handing the franchise over to 2K Games (who were responsible for publishing Infinite in 2013) with a view...
- 11/25/2014
- by Andrew Heaton
- We Got This Covered
Ahead of its launch in the UK on Friday, Take-Two has debuted the trailer for the BioShock Infinite: Complete Edition, which bundles together the core threequel along with the Clash in the Clouds add-on and the two Burial at Sea episodes.
The premium bundle is already available in North America, where it launched on Monday, November 3rd. Priced at $39.99 (£24.99), Infinite’s Complete Edition will also draft in some new weapons for in-game protagonist Booker DeWitt, including weapons and brand spanking new gear.
For those who have yet to play BioShock Infinite — the third entry into Irrational Games’ dystopian tale of xenophobia and horror — the spiritual sequel takes place in the sky city of Columbia, where Elizabeth, a young and mysterious woman with the ability to bend space-time, is being held captive.
And so, your grizzled protagonist accepts the mission to bring back the girl and wipe away his own debt...
The premium bundle is already available in North America, where it launched on Monday, November 3rd. Priced at $39.99 (£24.99), Infinite’s Complete Edition will also draft in some new weapons for in-game protagonist Booker DeWitt, including weapons and brand spanking new gear.
For those who have yet to play BioShock Infinite — the third entry into Irrational Games’ dystopian tale of xenophobia and horror — the spiritual sequel takes place in the sky city of Columbia, where Elizabeth, a young and mysterious woman with the ability to bend space-time, is being held captive.
And so, your grizzled protagonist accepts the mission to bring back the girl and wipe away his own debt...
- 11/5/2014
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Teen-focused sci-fi dystopias are all the rage at the moment, between this month's The Maze Runner, Divergent, The Host, and of course the mighty Hunger Games. But none of them can hold a candle to Michael Anderson's classic Logan's Run, which was made the year before Star Wars came along and changed sci-fi blockbusters forever.
Based on the cult novel by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson, the film is set in 2274, with the remnants of humanity living in a computer-controlled, sealed, domed city after a non-specific apocalypse. 23rd century society is pretty much a utopia: citizens get to shop, take drugs and have sex as much as they like, with the central computers taking care of reproduction and, it's implied, child-rearing. There's just one catch: when you turn 30, you are deemed no longer useful to society and you have to either take your chances in a bizarre...
Based on the cult novel by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson, the film is set in 2274, with the remnants of humanity living in a computer-controlled, sealed, domed city after a non-specific apocalypse. 23rd century society is pretty much a utopia: citizens get to shop, take drugs and have sex as much as they like, with the central computers taking care of reproduction and, it's implied, child-rearing. There's just one catch: when you turn 30, you are deemed no longer useful to society and you have to either take your chances in a bizarre...
- 10/19/2014
- Digital Spy
Is a new BioShock game in the works at one of 2K Games’ affiliated studios? It’s a definite possibility, given a teaser image that was recently posted to Twitter by the company’s UK division.
Oooo, what Could this mean?! pic.twitter.com/P93Nl643SU
— 2K United Kingdom (@2KInternational) July 24, 2014
The teaser itself — which shows a naked woman holding an apple, with the slogan, “Come bite the apple!” written on it — brings back memories of the series’ first two games. Why? Well, for starters, “Eve’s Garden” shows up underneath the piece of fruit. Fans will remember that name as being the title of Rapture’s gentleman’s club, which appeared in both the original BioShock and its sequel’s multiplayer mode. The image’s art style is also more reminiscent of something from the underwater city, as opposed to Columbia, BioShock Infinite‘s city in the clouds.
Oooo, what Could this mean?! pic.twitter.com/P93Nl643SU
— 2K United Kingdom (@2KInternational) July 24, 2014
The teaser itself — which shows a naked woman holding an apple, with the slogan, “Come bite the apple!” written on it — brings back memories of the series’ first two games. Why? Well, for starters, “Eve’s Garden” shows up underneath the piece of fruit. Fans will remember that name as being the title of Rapture’s gentleman’s club, which appeared in both the original BioShock and its sequel’s multiplayer mode. The image’s art style is also more reminiscent of something from the underwater city, as opposed to Columbia, BioShock Infinite‘s city in the clouds.
- 7/25/2014
- by Chad Goodmurphy
- We Got This Covered
Ken Levine, creative director and co-founder of Irrational Games, has shed some light on the long-awaited BioShock title for PlayStation Vita, which has effectively dropped off the radar since it was tentatively announced back in 2011.
Taking to his personal Twitter account, Levine spoke candidly about the status of the game, which he planned as a prequel moulded in a similar vein to turn-based RPG, Final Fantasy Tactics. Nevertheless, the developer has stated that 2K and Sony are yet to reach a formal agreement:
on the Vita game: 2k and sony couldn’t put a deal together when I last checked. They seemed way more optimistic about this back in 2011.
— Ken Levine (@IGLevine) July 8, 2014
Initially unveiled during Sony’s E3 press conference in 2011, many assumed the title would appease fans of the BioShock series in the build-up to Infinite — which experienced several prolonged delays leading up to launch.
Speaking of which,...
Taking to his personal Twitter account, Levine spoke candidly about the status of the game, which he planned as a prequel moulded in a similar vein to turn-based RPG, Final Fantasy Tactics. Nevertheless, the developer has stated that 2K and Sony are yet to reach a formal agreement:
on the Vita game: 2k and sony couldn’t put a deal together when I last checked. They seemed way more optimistic about this back in 2011.
— Ken Levine (@IGLevine) July 8, 2014
Initially unveiled during Sony’s E3 press conference in 2011, many assumed the title would appease fans of the BioShock series in the build-up to Infinite — which experienced several prolonged delays leading up to launch.
Speaking of which,...
- 7/8/2014
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Bioshock: Infinite
Irrational Games
2K Games
PS3, Xbox 360, Windows, Os X
If you’re anything like me, the ending of Bioshock: Infinite will have made you dump your controller, stare agape at the screen and yell “no!” in disbelief over and over. It is a conclusion which shakes up the game experience like no other. It is cathartic, unsettling, and joyous. It’s a clear example of the developers following the storytelling maxim of beginning at the end and working backwards while serving as an enormous impetus for players to immediately restart the game and piece together the clues that fit into this monumental narrative. I, for one, started a new game right away.
By any reasonable standard, Bioshock: Infinite is a large game. Yes, at its core, it is an on-rails shooter. But it is so much more than that. Of course there’s deep discussion of the metaphysical,...
Irrational Games
2K Games
PS3, Xbox 360, Windows, Os X
If you’re anything like me, the ending of Bioshock: Infinite will have made you dump your controller, stare agape at the screen and yell “no!” in disbelief over and over. It is a conclusion which shakes up the game experience like no other. It is cathartic, unsettling, and joyous. It’s a clear example of the developers following the storytelling maxim of beginning at the end and working backwards while serving as an enormous impetus for players to immediately restart the game and piece together the clues that fit into this monumental narrative. I, for one, started a new game right away.
By any reasonable standard, Bioshock: Infinite is a large game. Yes, at its core, it is an on-rails shooter. But it is so much more than that. Of course there’s deep discussion of the metaphysical,...
- 5/24/2014
- by Kris Holt
- SoundOnSight
Sony Pictures has registered a number of BioShock movie-related domains.
Kotaku discovered that bioshock-movie.com, bioshock-movie.net, and bio-shock.net have all been snapped up by the studio in the past month.
Universal had previously been linked to an adaptation of the 2007 first-person shooter, but the project was hit with multiple setbacks, including disputes over awarding it an R rating and the departure of two directors.
Series creator Ken Levine then put a dampener on fan hopes, after admitting he had made the decision to "kill" the project last year.
" It's weird, having been a scriptwriter... begging for any rewrite of a script, to then [go to] being in the position where you're killing a movie of one of the things you've worked so much on," he told the audience at a 2013 BAFTA Q&A for BioShock Infinite.
"It was saying... I don't need to compromise... I had the world.
"The [BioShock] world existed,...
Kotaku discovered that bioshock-movie.com, bioshock-movie.net, and bio-shock.net have all been snapped up by the studio in the past month.
Universal had previously been linked to an adaptation of the 2007 first-person shooter, but the project was hit with multiple setbacks, including disputes over awarding it an R rating and the departure of two directors.
Series creator Ken Levine then put a dampener on fan hopes, after admitting he had made the decision to "kill" the project last year.
" It's weird, having been a scriptwriter... begging for any rewrite of a script, to then [go to] being in the position where you're killing a movie of one of the things you've worked so much on," he told the audience at a 2013 BAFTA Q&A for BioShock Infinite.
"It was saying... I don't need to compromise... I had the world.
"The [BioShock] world existed,...
- 4/25/2014
- Digital Spy
Several years ago, Universal Pictures hired Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) to direct a big screen adaptation of the "Bioshock" video game. The studio then quickly killed the project after the budget ballooned to $160 million and was headed for an "R" rating. A few months later, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) stepped in to replace him, but eventually left the project as well. Then last year, "Bioshock" creator Ken Levine revealed that he personally killed the movie. Now comes word that Sony Pictures may be interested in the project, since it just registered several domain names, including Bioshock-Movie.com, Bioshock-Movie.net and Bio-Shock.net. It's not clear what this means, but Levine may have changed his mind. He has been talking about getting into screenplay writing and making an attempt at writing the "Bioshock" movie. While we don't know if he's involved with the project, he's now writing the...
- 4/21/2014
- WorstPreviews.com
A year ago it seemed the dream was over - plans for a film based on the highly acclaimed video game series "Bioshock" at Universal were dead according to Irrational Games co-founder Ken Levine. Now though, it looks like it may have new life at another studio.
Kotaku reports that Sony Pictures has registered three new web domains – bioshock-movie.com, bioshock-movie.net and bio-shock.net - which suggests they're interested in reviving the property.
It certainly isn't out of the question as the company is leading the charge to bring numerous video game properties to the big screen including "Uncharted," "Watch Dogs," "The Last of Us" and "Gran Turismo".
The first two games in the series take place in the city of Rapture, an underwater utopia built for unethical scientists. The third game, "Bioshock Infinite," took place in Columbia, a cloud city utopia for religious zealots. In both cases, these...
Kotaku reports that Sony Pictures has registered three new web domains – bioshock-movie.com, bioshock-movie.net and bio-shock.net - which suggests they're interested in reviving the property.
It certainly isn't out of the question as the company is leading the charge to bring numerous video game properties to the big screen including "Uncharted," "Watch Dogs," "The Last of Us" and "Gran Turismo".
The first two games in the series take place in the city of Rapture, an underwater utopia built for unethical scientists. The third game, "Bioshock Infinite," took place in Columbia, a cloud city utopia for religious zealots. In both cases, these...
- 4/20/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
[Warning: While I'll try to steer clear of revealing the ending and major plot points, I won't shy away from talking about the game. So for those of you who wish to go into Episode 2 without a clue (or complete Episode 1, since this would spoil some of it), I'd recommend steering clear of this review for now.]
With the shocking and sudden announcement of Irrational Games closing for good, I imagine there’s a lot of expectations riding on Bioshock Infinite: Burial At Sea – Episode 2. Not only is this going to be the last (?) Bioshock game made, it is going to be the last game made by Irrational Games. And with the legacy of both a fantastic series and a landmark developer, it would be greatly disappointing if it didn’t go out with a bang.
I admit, I had my doubts about this one. Not that it wouldn’t be good; I had confidence there. But rather, I wasn’t sure just how great of a game it might be.
For starters, I wasn’t sure if Elizabeth would be a dynamic, playable character. Now, before anyone misinterprets what I said, I’m not saying Elizabeth isn’t a well written character or she wouldn’t...
With the shocking and sudden announcement of Irrational Games closing for good, I imagine there’s a lot of expectations riding on Bioshock Infinite: Burial At Sea – Episode 2. Not only is this going to be the last (?) Bioshock game made, it is going to be the last game made by Irrational Games. And with the legacy of both a fantastic series and a landmark developer, it would be greatly disappointing if it didn’t go out with a bang.
I admit, I had my doubts about this one. Not that it wouldn’t be good; I had confidence there. But rather, I wasn’t sure just how great of a game it might be.
For starters, I wasn’t sure if Elizabeth would be a dynamic, playable character. Now, before anyone misinterprets what I said, I’m not saying Elizabeth isn’t a well written character or she wouldn’t...
- 3/27/2014
- by Andrew Hudson
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
[Warning: While I'll try to steer clear of revealing the ending and major plot points, I won't shy away from talking about the game. So for those of you who wish to go into Episode 2 without a clue (or complete Episode 1, since this would spoil some of it), I'd recommend steering clear of this review for now.]
With the shocking and sudden announcement of Irrational Games closing for good, I imagine there’s a lot of expectations riding on Bioshock Infinite: Burial At Sea – Episode 2. Not only is this going to be the last (?) Bioshock game made, it is going to be the last game made by Irrational Games. And with the legacy of both a fantastic series and a landmark developer, it would be greatly disappointing if it didn’t go out with a bang.
I admit, I had my doubts about this one. Not that it wouldn’t be good; I had confidence there. But rather, I wasn’t sure just how great of a game it might be.
For starters, I wasn’t sure if Elizabeth would be a dynamic, playable character. Now, before anyone misinterprets what I said, I’m not saying Elizabeth isn’t a well written character or she wouldn’t...
With the shocking and sudden announcement of Irrational Games closing for good, I imagine there’s a lot of expectations riding on Bioshock Infinite: Burial At Sea – Episode 2. Not only is this going to be the last (?) Bioshock game made, it is going to be the last game made by Irrational Games. And with the legacy of both a fantastic series and a landmark developer, it would be greatly disappointing if it didn’t go out with a bang.
I admit, I had my doubts about this one. Not that it wouldn’t be good; I had confidence there. But rather, I wasn’t sure just how great of a game it might be.
For starters, I wasn’t sure if Elizabeth would be a dynamic, playable character. Now, before anyone misinterprets what I said, I’m not saying Elizabeth isn’t a well written character or she wouldn’t...
- 3/27/2014
- by Andrew Hudson
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
2K Games
In what came as quite a shock to everyone in the gaming world, video game leviathan Ken Levine recently announced he was disbanding Irrational Games and bringing along 15 of his most creative minds to form a smaller studio. The goal for him was to go back to how they started, to create ongoing narratives that encourage re-playability – something he no longer felt he could do with the studio in it’s current form.
This led to many a Bioshock enthusiast wondering just what’s next for their beloved franchise. Can there even be a Bioshock without Levine? Well 2K sure hope so. Bioshock is a massive money-spinner, not only loved by fans, but by critics too.
The universe established by Irrational Games is a canvas on which so many potential stories could unfold. The idea of multiple dimensions and timelines introduced in Bioshock Infinite only serve to expand the possibilities.
In what came as quite a shock to everyone in the gaming world, video game leviathan Ken Levine recently announced he was disbanding Irrational Games and bringing along 15 of his most creative minds to form a smaller studio. The goal for him was to go back to how they started, to create ongoing narratives that encourage re-playability – something he no longer felt he could do with the studio in it’s current form.
This led to many a Bioshock enthusiast wondering just what’s next for their beloved franchise. Can there even be a Bioshock without Levine? Well 2K sure hope so. Bioshock is a massive money-spinner, not only loved by fans, but by critics too.
The universe established by Irrational Games is a canvas on which so many potential stories could unfold. The idea of multiple dimensions and timelines introduced in Bioshock Infinite only serve to expand the possibilities.
- 2/25/2014
- by John Howard
- Obsessed with Film
It was announced earlier this week that Irrational Games, the makers of the "BioShock" series, would be shutting their doors while co-founder Ken Levine headed to Take-Two taking a much smaller staff with him. Despite the closure of Irrational, 2K Games has revealed that there are still plans for the future of the "BioShock" series, even without them. "'BioShock' is one of our most beloved and critically-acclaimed franchises, and we are indebted to Ken and the talented team at Irrational Games for their contributions to the series with 'BioShock' and 'BioShock Infinite'; the latter being one of the most decorated games of 2013," a 2K Games representative told Game Informer . "The 'BioShock' universe remains a rich creative canvas for many...
- 2/20/2014
- Comingsoon.net
Interview Aaron Birch 19 Feb 2014 - 05:16
The creator of BioShock is to close its doors, morphing into a smaller scale studio...
In an open letter on the studio's website (link below), studio head, Ken Levine, has announced that Irrational Games is set to be wound up in its current form.
As soon as the second part of the Burial at Sea Dlc for BioShock Infinite is released, Irrational as a studio will be wrapped up and Ken will take fifteen staff members to form a smaller scale outfit under Take Two.
The focus of the studio will be, “To make narrative-driven games for the core gamer that are highly replayable. To foster the most direct relationship with our fans possible, we will focus exclusively on content delivered digitally.”
Staff that aren't lucky enough to make the handful Ken keeps on for the new venture will be given plenty of help to secure their own future,...
The creator of BioShock is to close its doors, morphing into a smaller scale studio...
In an open letter on the studio's website (link below), studio head, Ken Levine, has announced that Irrational Games is set to be wound up in its current form.
As soon as the second part of the Burial at Sea Dlc for BioShock Infinite is released, Irrational as a studio will be wrapped up and Ken will take fifteen staff members to form a smaller scale outfit under Take Two.
The focus of the studio will be, “To make narrative-driven games for the core gamer that are highly replayable. To foster the most direct relationship with our fans possible, we will focus exclusively on content delivered digitally.”
Staff that aren't lucky enough to make the handful Ken keeps on for the new venture will be given plenty of help to secure their own future,...
- 2/19/2014
- by aaronbirch
- Den of Geek
In one of the saddest surprise announcements in the gaming world, it has been revealed that "BioShock" and "Bioshock Infinite" developer Irrational Games is shutting up shop after seventeen years.
Ken Levine, creative director and co-founder, has revealed in a statement that the company is essentially downsizing to just a core staff of 15 (from a staff of nearly 200).
That group will begin a new endeavor at Take-Two where they will concentrate on developing "highly replayable, narrative-driven games for the core gamer" and focus exclusively on content delivered digitally.
Irrational's parent company 2K Games will now take over the reins of the BioShock franchise.
Source: Polygon...
Ken Levine, creative director and co-founder, has revealed in a statement that the company is essentially downsizing to just a core staff of 15 (from a staff of nearly 200).
That group will begin a new endeavor at Take-Two where they will concentrate on developing "highly replayable, narrative-driven games for the core gamer" and focus exclusively on content delivered digitally.
Irrational's parent company 2K Games will now take over the reins of the BioShock franchise.
Source: Polygon...
- 2/19/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Irrational Games, developer of BioShock and BioShock Infinite, among other titles, will be going through some major changes. In a statement posted on the studio’s website, founder Ken Levine says that Irrational will cut its staff down to just 15 members, who will focus on making “narrative-driven games for the core gamer that are highly replayable.” According to Levine, these games will only be released digitally and will take a very long time to develop.
Levine says that some of the laid off staff members will be able to seek opportunities at other studios belonging to Take-Two Interactive, which owns Irrational Games. There will be also be a recruitment day for other studios to interview former Irrational staff.
Irrational Games was founded by Jon Chey, Rob Fermier and Levine in 1997. The studio’s last game, the highly praised BioShock Infinite, was released on March 26th, 2013. Part two of the game...
Levine says that some of the laid off staff members will be able to seek opportunities at other studios belonging to Take-Two Interactive, which owns Irrational Games. There will be also be a recruitment day for other studios to interview former Irrational staff.
Irrational Games was founded by Jon Chey, Rob Fermier and Levine in 1997. The studio’s last game, the highly praised BioShock Infinite, was released on March 26th, 2013. Part two of the game...
- 2/18/2014
- by Mike Trinh
- We Got This Covered
Irrational Games, the Studio behind Bioshock will sadly be shutting down after the release the final Bioshock Infinite Dlc.
Ken Levine today announced via irrationalgames.com that Irrational Games will be closing after the release of The last Dlc for BioShock Infinite (Burial at Sea Episode 2, scheduled to be released on march 25).
“I am winding down Irrational Games as you know it. I’ll be starting a smaller, more entrepreneurial endeavor at Take-Two.That is going to mean parting ways with all but about fifteen members of the Irrational team. “
The news will come as a blow to Bioshock fans, but perhaps we can take comfort in the fact that some of the minds behind these thought-provoking adventures will still be producing games as a team.
“When I first contemplated what I wanted to do, it became very clear to me that we were going to need a long period of design.
Ken Levine today announced via irrationalgames.com that Irrational Games will be closing after the release of The last Dlc for BioShock Infinite (Burial at Sea Episode 2, scheduled to be released on march 25).
“I am winding down Irrational Games as you know it. I’ll be starting a smaller, more entrepreneurial endeavor at Take-Two.That is going to mean parting ways with all but about fifteen members of the Irrational team. “
The news will come as a blow to Bioshock fans, but perhaps we can take comfort in the fact that some of the minds behind these thought-provoking adventures will still be producing games as a team.
“When I first contemplated what I wanted to do, it became very clear to me that we were going to need a long period of design.
- 2/18/2014
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Daley Johnson)
- Cinelinx
Irrational Games has seen incredible success as the developer of BioShock and BioShock Infinite, but Ken Levine has made an announcement that is sure to shock fans of the franchise. Irritional Games is in the process of “winding down,” and will let go all but 15 employees from the company as Ken Levine moves on to a new gaming venture. Here’s the official statement he posted to the Irrational Games website:
“When Jon Chey, Rob Fermier and I founded Irrational Games seventeen years ago, our mission was to make visually unique worlds and populate them with singular characters.
We built Rapture and Columbia, the Von Braun and The Rickenbacker, the Freedom Fortress and some of the nastiest basements a Swat team ever set foot into. We created Booker and Elizabeth, the Big Daddy and the Little Sister, MidWives and ManBot. In that time, Irrational has grown larger and more successful...
“When Jon Chey, Rob Fermier and I founded Irrational Games seventeen years ago, our mission was to make visually unique worlds and populate them with singular characters.
We built Rapture and Columbia, the Von Braun and The Rickenbacker, the Freedom Fortress and some of the nastiest basements a Swat team ever set foot into. We created Booker and Elizabeth, the Big Daddy and the Little Sister, MidWives and ManBot. In that time, Irrational has grown larger and more successful...
- 2/18/2014
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
In a surprise announcement, Ken Levine, creative director and co-founder of "BioShock" developer Irrational Games, just revealed in the following statement that the company is ending as we know it and that he'll be starting a new endeavor at Take-Two. Levine will now concentrate on developing digital games with a small team. A Message From Ken Levine When Jon Chey, Rob Fermier and I founded Irrational Games seventeen years ago, our mission was to make visually unique worlds and populate them with singular characters. We built Rapture and Columbia, the Von Braun and The Rickenbacker, the Freedom Fortress and some of the nastiest basements a Swat team ever set foot into. We created Booker and Elizabeth, the Big Daddy and the Little Sister, MidWives and ManBot. In that...
- 2/18/2014
- Comingsoon.net
Irrational Games has announced today that the second part of BioShock Infinite: Burial At Sea now has a release date. The Dlc will be arriving on March 25th for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC and can be purchased for $14.99 or as part of the season pass for $19.99.
Though we don’t know too much about what the story holds just yet, a recently released trailer did give away a few spoiler-ish hints as to which familiar faces might be showing up. Building on that, Irrational has promised that the plot will involve “nearly every major character from BioShock and BioShock Infinite.”
“In Burial at Sea – Episode Two, we are delivering a story that involves nearly every major character from the original BioShock and BioShock Infinite,” said Ken Levine, creative director of Irrational Games. “It is a story that will give gamers a new perspective on the BioShock universe and conclude...
Though we don’t know too much about what the story holds just yet, a recently released trailer did give away a few spoiler-ish hints as to which familiar faces might be showing up. Building on that, Irrational has promised that the plot will involve “nearly every major character from BioShock and BioShock Infinite.”
“In Burial at Sea – Episode Two, we are delivering a story that involves nearly every major character from the original BioShock and BioShock Infinite,” said Ken Levine, creative director of Irrational Games. “It is a story that will give gamers a new perspective on the BioShock universe and conclude...
- 2/5/2014
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
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